A Royals Look-in...from the beginning

[RoyalsBlue]

Well, this isn’t going to be my dynasty, since I’m just watching things play out, but I will be reporting on my favorite team, the Kansas City Royals, and starting from their very beginning, the 1969 season. I'll change things up as things progress, but for right now, here goes!

01.02.1969 – Several trades happened today. Guess all the executives are back to work after the New Year.

Trade between Cleveland and Washington
Indians get:
LF Brant Alyea
Senators get:
C Ken Suarez

Trade between California and San Francisco
Angels get:
CF Willie Mays
Giants get:
LF Rick Reichardt

My jaw dropped when I saw that the Giants traded Mays to the Angels, but at least he gets to stay on the West Coast

Trade between Philadelphia and St. Louis
Phillies get:
C Tim McCarver
C Ted Simmons
Cardinals get:
3B Rick Joseph

What are the Cardinals doing trading away 2 catchers in the same deal?

Trade between New York and Atlanta
Mets get:
P Claude Raymond
P Rick Kester
Braves get:
C Jerry Grote

Trade between Atlanta and California
Braves get:
P Eddie Fisher
3B Aurelio Rodriguez
Angels get:
3B Bob Aspromonte
P Garry Hill

I like this trade for the Braves. I've always liked Aurelio Rodriguez...just never exactly sure why. Maybe it was the name?

01.06.1969 – Had a few days between trades, but I can’t really see why the Cards made this deal.

Trade between St. Louis and San Francisco
Cardinals get:
SS Cesar Gutierrez
Giants get:
CF Vada Pinson

01.19.1969 – Either baseball’s general managers were on vacation or they were really burning up the phone lines during this 2 week stretch…I put my vote on the former.

Trade between St. Louis and Seattle
Cardinals get:
LF Steve Whitaker
LF Danny Walton
Pilots get:
3B Mike Shannon

Having always associated Mike Shannon with the Birds, this is a really strange deal for me. Not quite sure what the AI gm is thinking on this one.

01.26.1969 – Yet another slow week as far as trades go, but there was one deal made.

Trade between Baltimore and San Francisco
Orioles get:
P Bobby Bolin
Giants get:
2B Davey Johnson

I think Baltimore made a mistake trading Davey away for such little value, but I guess time will tell on that, won't it?

01.29.1969 – Apparently the trade talks are heating up as Spring Training gets closer, and the Baltimore-San Fran gm’s have really hit it off with their second trade in 3 days.

Trade between Baltimore and San Francisco
Orioles get:
3B Bobby Etheridge
Giants get:
RF Merv Rettenmund

Personally, I think the Giants got the better end of this deal. No wonder the SF gm wants to deal with the O's gm. Just look at these past two trades. Wow.

01.30.1969
Trade between Chicago and San Diego
White Sox get:
P Tom Dukes
SS Rafael Robles
Padres get:
C Don Pavletich
LF Bob Christian

Well hello there expansion Padres. Welcome to the world of non-descript trades!

01.31.1969
Trade between Oakland and Montreal
Athletics get:
P Steve Shea
Expos get:
2B Ted Kubiak
2B Tony LaRussa

And ditto to the Montreal Expos…or will LaRussa be more than just an average at best player in this?

[RoyalsBlue]

02.10.1969 – Looks like the trades are starting to slow down again, but the one trade for today is very interesting to me.

Trade between Los Angeles and Detroit
Dodgers get:
P Pat Dobson
Tigers get:
3B Jim LeFebvre

LeFebvre will be a solid addition to the Tigers lineup. Just goes to show that even the defending World Champions need to keep improving their team. The Dodgers get a rising young arm to plug into their pitching staff, currently Dobson is slated as the number 4 starter.

02.25.1969 – Again, the trades have slowed down, but since we’re in the training portion of ST, that’s to be expected. However, the Padres swung another deal, this time with the BoSox.

Trade between San Diego and Boston
Padres get:
3B Syd O’Brien
Red Sox get:
P Dick Kelley

I think the Red Sox were just looking to get their names in the paper. This trade really doesn’t help either team, IMO.

03.02.1969 – Spring Training games officially start

Well the games are here, and the Royals first opponent in their existence will be the Washington Senators.

ST Game 1 @ Washington Senators W 6-5 (10 inn) WP Roger Nelson (1-0) SV-Moe Drabowsky (1)
SP – KC-Mike Hedlund WAS-Dick Bosman
Well, how do you like that? First game ever and the boys in blue have to make a comeback for the win. A pitcher’s duel through 6 at 2-1, the Senators knocked across 3 in the bottom half of the seventh, highlighted by a 426 ft 2-run homer from newly acquired Ken Suarez. Top of the eighth though, saw the Royals push across 4, thanks to a pair of 2-run doubles by Scott Northey and pinch-hitter Joe Keough. Player of the game honors, however, went to Buck Martinez for his gamewinning 408 ft solo homer in the tenth. Not a bad start for a franchise, albeit not a game that counts.

[majormet]

This was a good time for baseball, I mean 1969 in particular (see my chat name)

Interesting trades.

Willie Mays was washed up in 1969

You have to love Auerelio because he was the guy with the very expensive baseball card, when the batboy posed as him.

Cardinals traded away Tim McCarver because he has a huge fat mouth LOL

Bobby Bolin was lame, I think the Davey deal is a steal

Like the Dodgers with Pat Dobson, he could have been a hall of fame type pitcher, Chavez Ravine will help him. Pat died this year I think.

[RoyalsBlue]

Originally Posted by majormet

This was a good time for baseball, I mean 1969 in particular (see my chat name)

Interesting trades.

Willie Mays was washed up in 1969

Cardinals traded away Tim McCarver because he has a huge fat mouth LOL

Yeah, Willie was at the end of his career, but it was still shocking to me to see him traded. And I can't really dispute the McCarver remark!

[RoyalsBlue]

03.03.1969 – Royals Trade Oliver to Twins for Cardenas

Trade between Kansas City and Minnesota
Royals get:
SS Leo Cardenas
Twins get:
1B Bob Oliver

Since the Royals are an expansion team, it’s hard to have mixed feelings about this trade, but that’s exactly what I have. I think Oliver could have had a solid future in KC, but the Royals management decided to trade him for Leo Cardenas, who looks a lot like their current SS, Jackie Hernandez. Basically, the only difference is Cardenas ability to turn the DP and Hernandez is slightly faster. Otherwise, they’re the same player.

ST Game 2 vs Baltimore Orioles L 4-1 LP-Bill Butler (0-1)
SP – BAL-Dave McNally KC-Bill Butler

An early 3 spot for the Orioles was more than enough to defeat the Royals in their second ST game. Baltimore’s pitchers held the KC offense to a meager 3 hits, two of which were in the fourth when back to back singles by Mike Fiore and the newly acquired Leo Cardenas scored KC’s only run of the game. Good news for the pitching staff as Dave Wickersham, Galen Cisco and Steve Jones held the O’s to 1 run and 1 hit over the last 5 innings

[Snap Wilson]

Good luck, KC.

I ain't even gonna get into those Cardinal trades.

[RoyalsBlue]

Originally Posted by Snap Wilson

Good luck, KC.

I ain't even gonna get into those Cardinal trades.

Can't blame ya, Snap. I was just shaking my head too. Maybe the Cards gm has a plan in mind....

[RoyalsBlue]

03.04.1969

ST Game 3 @ Seattle Pilots L 7-6 LP-Al Fitzmorris (0-1)
SP – KC-AL Fitzmorris SEA-Skip Lockwood

This game the Royals offense scored 3 runs early and 3 runs late, but in the end the pitching staff just couldn’t quite stem the tide of the Pilots offense. The offensive stars for KC were Pat Kelly, who went 2 for 3 with 2 rbi, and Jackie Hernandez, who pinch-hit late and went 1 for 2 with a solo homer. Starting pitching hasn’t looked too good the past couple of games, but it is early in the spring, so hopefully it’ll work itself out.

INJURY NEWS
Bad news for Baltimore fans as Jim Palmer left the O’s-A’s contest in the first inning. The team’s worst fears were confirmed just hours later as the 23 year old righty will miss at least 11 months with a torn bicep muscle.

03.05.1969

ST Game 4 vs Cleveland Indians W 8-4 WP-Jim Rooker (1-0)
SP- CLE – Steve Hargan KC-Jim Rooker

When the Indians Tony Horton connected for a 2-run homer in the first, it looked like it might be a long day for the Royals, but then the KC offense answered with a four run outburst in the bottom of the inning thanks to four consecutive hits by Mike Fiore, Ed Kirkpatrick, Pat Kelly, and Leo Cardenas and a 2 run error on Cleveland’s shortstop Zoilo Versailles. The Royals pitching staff settled down from there as the lead continued to grow to 8-2 before the Indians got their final two runs in the ninth.

[RoyalsBlue]

03.06.1969
Trade between Cleveland and New York
Indians get:
SS Gene Michael
Yankees get:
LF Frank Baker

No, not HomeRun Baker! Guess Gene Michael is getting shown the door well in advance of his gm days with the Yanks! But what were the Indians thinking to acquire a career .196 hitter like Michael?!? “Stick” Michael? Guess that’s kind of like calling the fat guy Tiny!


INJURY NEWS
Another pitcher has been confirmed to miss the season as the Cardinals Mike Torrez ruptured his tricep against Houston. He is expected to miss at least 8 months. Torrez was penciled in to be the #3 starter for the Redbirds, but now it looks like Nelson Briles will slide into that slot.

ST Game 5 vs Minnesota Twins W 6-3 WP-Dick Drago (1-0) SV-Moe Drabowsky (2)
SP – MIN-Jim Kaat KC-Dick Drago
Well, the pitching for the Royals was really solid again today, particularly from the starter Dick Drago who went 4 strong innings allowing only 2 hits and striking out 2 with no walks. Former Royal Bob Oliver accounted for all the Twins scoring with a mammoth 437 foot 3-run homer off KC reliever Wally Bunker.

INJURY NEWS – part deux
Pittsburgh will be without the services of pitcher Dock Ellis for at least two months after he strained his rotator cuff while pitching against the Phillies. Said Ellis after meeting with the team doctor, “Right now I’m pretty sore and I don’t feel very good at all.” I think the Pittsburgh fans are feeling your pain, Dock.

[RoyalsBlue]

03.07.1969
ST Game 6 @ Boston Red Sox L 8-2 LP-Mike Hedlund (0-1)
SP – KC-Mike Hedlund (0-0 2.25) BOS-Ray Culp (1-0 4.50)
Boston scored in every inning but two, and one of those was the ninth and they didn’t have to bat then anyway. The only pitcher for KC who didn’t give up an earned run was Don O’Riley and he only pitched two thirds of an inning, due to back spasms. He’ll be out for a couple of weeks. Player of the game was Boston’s Carl Yazstremski, going 2 for 3 with a homer and 2 rbi’s.

03.08.1969
ST Game 7 vs New York Yankees W 2-1 WP-Bill Butler (1-1) SV-Chris Zachary (1)
SP – NYY-Al Downing (1-0 0.00) KC-Bill Butler (0-1 6.75)
Hey, this is nice. A good, old-fashioned pitcher’s duel and the boys in blue were able to get just enough offense early and were able to make it stand up. KC manufactured a run in the bottom of the first after Joe Foy led off with a double. Leo Cardenas couldn’t advance him with a flyout to right, so 3 pitches later Foy steals third. Mike Fiore, who went a perfect 3 for 3, knocked him in with a single up the middle and the early 1-0 lead. The Yankees responded immediately in the second inning though on a solo homer by Thurman Munson that just cleared the left field fence. Undeterred, the Royals retook the lead in the bottom half as Foy got a key two-out hit to score Paul Schaal with the final run of the game.

INJURY NEWS
Apparently it’s a run on pitchers being injured, as this time Cincinnati’s Gary Nolan damaged the meniscus in his left knee. It doesn’t appear to be serious as the doctor’s anticipate Nolan returning in a week or two.

[Snap Wilson]

Originally Posted by RoyalsBlue

No, not HomeRun Baker! Guess Gene Michael is getting shown the door well in advance of his gm days with the Yanks! But what were the Indians thinking to acquire a career .196 hitter like Michael?!? “Stick” Michael? Guess that’s kind of like calling the fat guy Tiny!

When Michael was hired as the Yankee GM (the first time), Steinbrenner was quoted as saying, "the first time I saw him play shortstop, I knew he belonged in the front office."

[RoyalsBlue]

Originally Posted by Snap Wilson

When Michael was hired as the Yankee GM (the first time), Steinbrenner was quoted as saying, "the first time I saw him play shortstop, I knew he belonged in the front office."

Ha. That sounds like George! Thanks for checking in, Snap.

[RoyalsBlue]

03.09.1969
ST Game 8 @ Detroit Tigers L 2-1 LP-Tom Burgmeier (0-1)
SP – KC-AL Fitzmorris (0-1 9.00) DET-Earl Wilson (1-0 0.00)
Well, the good news for the Royals is that their starting pitching is getting solidified after another solid starting performance, this time by Al Fitzmorris who scattered 6 hits over 4 shutout innings. The bad news is that the offense is really struggling right now, as the team only got a pair of hits, one each from Paul Schaal and Joe Keough. The decisive blow in the game was a line drive 2-run homer from Detroit’s Dick Tracewski off of Tom Burgmeier in the eighth.

03.10.1969
ST Game 9 vs Chicago White Sox L 5-3 LP-Jim Rooker (1-1)
SP – CHI-Billy Wynne (1-0 2.25) KC-Jim Rooker (1-0 4.50)
A pair of 2-run homers by the ChiSox were the difference in today’s game. “I made a couple of mistakes,” said southpaw Jim Rooker, who took the loss. “You can’t give up multiple homers, especially when they’re not solo shots, and expect to win the game.” The offense was only marginally better today. Mike Fiore connected on his first roundtripper of the spring, a 387 foot shot to right-center off Chicago reliever Dan Osinki. Lou Piniella finally broke out of his spring-long funk with a couple singles to raise his average to .167. The offense needs to come around or this could be a long season for these expansion Royals.

INJURY NEWS
Oakland’s second baseman Dick Green came up lame during their game against Detroit. Word from the Athletics medical staff indicate it’s just a strained hamstring and that he should be back in about a week. Said Green, “It was kinda freaky. Hopefully I’ll be back in the lineup real soon.”

Montreal reliever Howie Reed wasn’t as fortunate as he suffered a herniated disc against Philadelphia and will be out up to eight months. “It’s a shame because he was throwing the ball real well,” said the Phillies general manager Eric Parker.

CONTRACT NEWS
San Francisco announced today that they had reached an agreement with pitcher Juan Marichal on a 3 year extension. No financial terms were released.

Baltimore signed pitcher Dave McNally to a 3 year extension also. Rumor has it that the total worth of the deal is nearly $2 million.

[RoyalsBlue]

03.11.1969
ST Game 10 vs California Angels L 3-1 LP-Dick Drago (1-1)
SP – CAL-Clyde Wright (0-0 0.00) KC-Dick Drago (1-0 0.00)
The offense continues to scuffle for the Royals. This is their fourth game with one run and that can’t make the KC skipper sleep easy at night. At least the pitching has been steady for the most part, but they’re not going to win many games getting only one run a game.

03.12.1969
CONTRACT NEWS
The Pittsburgh Pirates have come to an agreement with reliever Pedro Ramos that will keep him in Pennsylvania for another 2 years. Financial terms were not released.

ST Game 11 @ Oakland Athletics L 6-1 LP-Tom Burgmeier (0-2)
SP – KC-Mike Hedlund (0-1 4.50) OAK-Blue Moon Odom (0-1 6.75)
And the beat goes on for the Royals offense, or rather the beatdown, as KC can only muster up one run again. Either the Royals are facing some really good pitchers or their offense is completely putrid. No offense to any of the opposing pitchers, but I’ll wager it’s the latter. 4 hits on offense just is not going to cut it in the major leagues.

03.13.1969
ST Game 12 vs Washington Senators W 6-5 (11 inn) WP-Moe Drabowsky (1-0)
SP – WAS-Joe Coleman (0-0 7.88) KC-Bill Butler (1-1 4.50)
Well, second verse the same as the first. Washington and KC have played twice in the spring, both games going to extra innings before the Royals won 6-5. Finally the Royals offense got going with 12 hits, but the only player for KC to have more than one hit was Buck Martinez, who pinch-hit late in the game for Pat Kelly. Whatever the case, it was definitely nice to see some hits and runs by the offense for a change.

INJURY NEWS
California Angels reliever George Brunet was pulled from their game againt Oakland with a tender elbow. “His elbow’s a little inflamed right now,” said California team doctor Tim Hansen. “We’re going to shut him down and treat it with anti-inflammatories and rest. Then we’ll take another look in a few day."

[RoyalsBlue]

03.14.1969 – Offday

Trade between Baltimore and Houston
Orioles get:
P Fred Gladding
Astros get:
LF Curt Motton

Would somebody like to explain why the Astros would trade a solid reliever like Gladding for a career .199 hitter like Motton? Anyone? Didn’t think so. Maybe the O’s gm found somebody worse than him.

03.15.1969
ST Game 13 @ Baltimore Orioles L 4-3 LP-Chris Zachary (0-1)
SP – KC Al Fitzmorris (0-1 4.50) BAL-Bobby Bolin (0-2 7.88)
The Royals jumped out to an early lead, but their bullpen couldn’t hold it late as the Orioles pushed across single runs in the eighth and ninth to win the game. Ed Kirkpatrick was the hitting star for KC going 3 for 3 with a homer and 2 rbi. Al Fitzmorris had another solid start going 4 strong innings only allowing 2 hits and striking out 2.

INJURY NEWS
Cubs left fielder Billy Williams came out of their game against Cincinnati with a pain in his right arm. Subsequent examinations revealed a strained bicep, which will sideline him for about a month. “I’m frustrated right now,” said Williams. “I can’t help this team by sitting on the bench or in the training room. Believe me, I won’t be out a day longer than I have to.”

03.16.1969
Trade between Houston and Seattle
Astros get:
P Diego Segui
Pilots get:
2B Julio Gotay
LF Keith Lampard

This is a solid trade for both teams. Houston gets a nice addition to their relief corp with Segui, while the Pilots get a good, sturdy second baseman in Gotay for their lineup.

Trade between St. Louis and Chicago
Cardinals get:
P Billy Wynne
White Sox get:
2B Julian Javier
SS Steve Huntz

Another strange decision by the Cardinals brass. Guess they’re completely dismantling their team at this point.

ST Game 14 vs Seattle Pilots L 1-0 LP-Dave Wickersham (0-1)
SP – SEA-Gary Timberlake (1-0 6.75) KC-Jim Rooker (1-1 4.50)
Wow, the Royals offensive woes resurface, this time against their expansion brethren Seattle Pilots. At this point, it appears the only hope for the Royals this season is if their starters can shutout the opponents.

[RoyalsBlue]

03.17.1969
ST Game 15 @ Cleveland Indians W 7-1 WP-Mike Hedlund (1-1)
SP – KC-Mike Hedlund (0-1 3.75) CLE-Sam McDowell (0-1 3.75)
Guess the hitters got tired of hearing how poorly they were doing. Bunching together several hits in the third inning got KC three runs, highlighted by a 2-run double from Leo Cardenas. Then again in the seventh, a walk and four consecutive singles capped by a 2-run single from Paul Schaal plated 4 more runs for the Royals.

INJURY NEWS
San Francisco second sacker Ron Hunt will be on the shelf after suffering an elbow injury against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Team doctor Roberto Hurtado doesn’t believe that it’s serious and that Hunt will return in about two weeks.

03.18.1969
ST Game 16 @ Minnesota Twins L 5-2 LP-Steve Jones (0-1)
SP – KC-Bill Butler (1-1 3.75) MIN-Dick Boswell (0-2 3.00)
A good pitcher’s duel was spoiled late by the Royals bullpen as Steve Jones surrendered a 3-run homer to Dick Boswell that left the stadium on a frozen rope. Pat Kelly continued his hot hitting as he raised his average to .368 after a 3 for 4 day. The Royals did have some bad news, however, in that Lou Piniella strained his left calf running the bases. Early reports have Sweet Lou missing up to three weeks with this injury.

03.19.1969
Trade between St. Louis and Baltimore
Cardinals get:
CF Dave May
Orioles get:
P Nelson Briles
LF Danny Walton

Yet another headscratcher of a trade by the Cards. Walton was just recently acquired and now is packaged with Briles. Maybe May will turn out to be a solid major league center fielder, but the Cards can’t really keep getting might be’s in return on these trades.

ST Game 17 vs Boston Red Sox W 5-4 WP-Chris Zachary (1-1) SV-Moe Drabowsky (3)
SP – BOS-Mike Nagy (2-1 4.50) KC-Roger Nelson (1-0 0.00)
A late rally again for the Royals allowed them to defeat the Red Sox. Pat Kelly continues to be red hot as he connected for his first homer of the spring during his 2 for 4 day. Hawk Taylor, trying to raise his average above the Mendoza line, was named player of the game after going 2 for 4 and knocking in the game clinching runs in the eighth.

INJURY NEWS
The California Angels will be without the services of third baseman Jim Fregosi after he injured his knee on the basepaths against Detroit. The Angels expect Fregosi back in about two weeks.

[RoyalsBlue]

03.20.1969
Trade between St. Louis and Atlanta
Cardinals get:
1B Orlando Cepeda
Braves get:
P Ray Washburn
1B Joe Hague

I've given up trying to figure out the Redbird trades.

ST Game 18 @ New York Yankees L 8-7 (11 inn) LP-Moe Drabowsky (1-1)
SP – KC-Al Fitzmorris (0-1 3.00) NY-Mel Stottlemyre (0-1 9.64)
A wild and wooly affair with the Bronx Bombers, but the bullpen just couldn’t hold the late lead again. It was a back and forth game and the Royals looked like they were about to win it iafter Fran Healy singled in Pat Kelly in the top of the eleventh. Unfortunately, the usually reliable Moe Drabowsky gave up a pair in the bottom half to the Yankees, sending KC to it’s eleventh loss in eighteen games.

03.21.1969
ST Game 19 vs Detroit Tigers L 2-0 LP-Jim Rooker (1-2)
SP – DET-Joe Sparma (0-2 7.71) KC-Jim Rooker (1-1 3.00)
Jim Rooker only allowed 1 run in his four inning stint today, but that was more than enough against the suddenly again anemic Royal offense that only mustered 2 hits. The solo homer by Dick Tracewski in the eighth sealed the deal for the Tigers as KC lost their third in four games.

INJURY NEWS
Pittsburgh right fielder Roberto Clemente will be sidelined for a month after suffering a fractured cheekbone trying to make a spectacular catch at the wall against the Montreal Expos. “It hurt a lot to be honest,” said Clemente. “Thank goodness it’s not too serious. I just hope it heals soon and I can get back on the field.”

03.22.1969
ST Game 20 @ Chicago White Sox L 5-2 LP-Mike Hedlund (1-2)
SP – KC-Mike Hedlund (1-1 2.81) CHI-Gary Peters (1-1 2.81)
And the losing continues for the Royals. Some good news for KC in the form of their first multiple homer game of the spring, courtesy of Joe Foy and Jerry Adair. The really bad news of the day belongs to the White Sox as they lose one of their middle relievers, Dan Orsinski, to a ruptured tricep and he will miss the entire season.

[Snap Wilson]

Originally Posted by RoyalsBlue

03.20.1969
Trade between St. Louis and Atlanta
Cardinals get:
1B Orlando Cepeda
Braves get:
P Ray Washburn
1B Joe Hague

Guess they wanted the Baby Bull back!

This actually isn't a bad trade at this point in time. Cepeda had a couple of good seasons left, Washburn was washed up and Hague were never much of anything. It's their first deal that makes any sense.

[Snap Wilson]

Originally Posted by RoyalsBlue

Trade between Philadelphia and St. Louis
Phillies get:
C Tim McCarver
C Ted Simmons
Cardinals get:
3B Steve Joseph

Wait a second... who the heck is Steve Joseph?

[RoyalsBlue]

Originally Posted by Snap Wilson

Wait a second... who the heck is Steve Joseph?

Thanks for catching that, Snap. The name should be Rick Joseph. Don't know where I came up with Steve at.

IRL, he was a journeyman that made it to the majors for parts of five seasons. So far this spring, though, he's hitting .297/.324/.500 3 HR, 6 RBI.